Water Parameters - HELP!!!

[hfabs]

Hello Reef Friends

I have been religiously doing a 10% WC weekly but some of my water parameters are still not quite there: -

Calcium : 385ppm

Alkalinity : 9dKH

Magnesium : 1200ppm

Ammonia : undetectable

Nitrate : 1.0ppm

My Nitrate is like hitting the roof! what can I do to bring it down? Do another WC? I have not really overfeed my fishes and i have a refugium filled with macro algae.

Any kind advice to the above and how can I improve some of the parameters above.

Many thanks in advance

Mark

[straydum]

1ppm is not hitting the roof

for a normal reef with simple corals, i'd say your water is in check!

[hfabs]

Sorry typo..it shd be 100ppm. GOSH!

[Terryz_]

Do a larger volume of water change...

[wilsontantw]

Can you share these:

1) What water/salt mix do u use for w/c?

2) How many fish do u have? Heavy feeding? Like twice a day?

3) Is your skimmer doing a good job and do u regularly wash the collection cup/neck?

Generic answers without knowing above will be:

Use AZ-NO3 as a quick-fix solution.

But I would suggest you find the root cause of what's causing this constantly high nitrate. 100ppm errrr..

You can try to use other nutrient exporter such as chaeto/macro algae.. Using algae turf scrubber could help too.

Usually regular water change should bring nitrate and phosphate down. Unless the water you use already has nitrate.

Hope this helps.

[hotsoup]

I noticed that you started your tank somewhere in late Dec 2010. Did u go thru proper cycling before the live stock is added in? Based on period, your tank might just completed its cycle and that there is a possibility of NO3 at 100

[dnsfpl]

2 months old tank, no3 100ppm

you sure your test kit is giving the correct reading?

[Terryz_]

I am thinking if you did a large water change right after your cycling finish... Becos you NO3 will be at a high level after your cycling and you will need to do a large water change to bring it down first...

[jetski250]

Any fish "disappeared" recently? A dead fish might up the nitrate but not sure that's the only factor causing 100ppm. Some of my friends use Vodka successfully but you need to read up in detail before you get started.

[coral diver]

Try another test kit of NO3 (Nitrate)and what kind of test kit are you using, and do not defend on water change to boost up your other low minerals use a supplement, also how big/small your tank is?, are you mixing/ RODI water or NSW.

[samuel88]

if you have a refugium of macro algae, and you don't over feed, maybe your test kit just messed up?

[hfabs]

Terryz@ How much is large volume WC ~ 50%?. Btw, I didn't know that I should do a large WC after cycling.

Wilsontantw@ Thanks.

1) I used filter water from my filter for human consumption which filters out impurities, chlorine etc. I know I shd purchase a DI set but I was told that I could use those filters that we used for human consumption, it shd also work for fishes.

2) The salt I used is Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt

3) My skimmer is doing fine and I make a point to wash when dirt accumulates

Hotsoup@ I cycled mine for about 3 weeks with treated sea water, life rocks and a refugium filled with macro algae. I started with corals and a few hardy fishes like clowns.

dnsfpl@ I tested it twice and it gave the same results

jetski250@ yes my yellow wrasse disappeared without a trace. Perhaps you are right. I read about vodka but it sounds scary so I think I will not resort to this route. Thanks

Jojo@ I am currently using Salifert. I will probably try another test kit. I am mixing my Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt from filtered water that we use for human consumption.

Samuelo@ I will get another test kit

Thanks all for your kind comments.

[Terryz_]

Terryz@ How much is large volume WC ~ 50%?. Btw, I didn't know that I should do a large WC after cycling.

Yes, around 25%-50% should be fine for the first water change.. Now with fishes go with 25% change... For twice a week lor and check the NO3 after 1 week...

Edited February 21, 2011 by Terryz_

[hfabs]

Thanks Terryz : )

[wilsontantw]

Just for curiosity sake, would you like to try measure nitrate and phosphate of ur salt mix before water change?

I'm keen to find out if it makes any difference. If there's no difference, I'll not buy any more resins! These are expensive.

[wilsontantw]

Oh yes, how many fish do u currently have in your setup?

It's about 3-4 weeks after cycling right?

[hfabs]

Hi Wilson@ currently about 15 but they are all small fishes and juveniles.

[hfabs]

Hi Wilson@ currently about 15 but they are all small fishes and juveniles.

[hfabs]

Hi Wilson@ currently about 15 but they are all small fishes and juveniles.

[BFG]

No wonder.....another ' too many livestock to begin with ' scenario. Try to match the return pump flow rate to the skimmer pump flow rate.